The title of Champion in Great Britain must surely be one of the most difficult to obtain. Entries at the shows are generally very large, and since there is no special champion-class, champions also continue to compete for the coveted big green CC-cards.
The first imported whippet that became a champion in Great Britain was Ch Samoems Silent Knight of Shalfleet (Ch Samoems Scorpion x Shalfleet Sylvine). He was bred in 1977 by Tim Teillers in Holland and was owned in England by Barbara Wilton-Clark (Shalfleet). Silent Knight had a pedigree that combined old Dutch bloodlines (Kafiristans and v d Getrouwen) that in turn was founded on British Wingedfoot-lines. His dam's pedigree was a combination of Shalfleet's part out-cross male Selbrook Brandy of Shalfleet (Ch Deepridge Mintmaster x Ch Selbrook Bracelet) and original Shalfleet blood. Since the Shalfleet kennels were disbanded and Mrs Wilton-Clark stopped breeding these bloodlines are still available in Great Britain with Kathy Thomas Faracre kennels. Mrs Wilton-ClarkÍs daughter Jane has now a renewed interest in her mothers prefix.
The second imported Whippet to be made into a champion in Great Britain was Ch Lorricbrook Runaway at Shalefleet (Ch Misty Moor Lorricbrook Classic x Shalfleet Spanish Flower). Runaway was bred in 1983 by Max Magder in Canada and was again owned in England by Barbara Wilton-Clark (Shalfleet). Runaway's sire was a grandson to the classic top-winner in the US Ch Gold Dust's Twenty Four Karat. His mother was a daughter to Silent Knight and her sire was also his grandson. Runaway's pedigree was in most parts Shalfleet combined with different families across the Atlantic.
The third import to become a historical champion in Great Britain won his title as late as last year. His name is Ch Whipcat Fire Island at Courthill (Ch Lorric-brook Bandleader x Ch Courthill Cafe Society). He was born two years before in Germany with Susanne and Hans Joachim Oschinski and is owned in England by Roger Stock (Courthill). Bandleader was bred in Canada by Max Magder and is a son of the famous Ch Sporting Fields Jazz Fest. Bandleader's dam in turn comes from the famous bredding from Ch Pencloe Dutch Gold (BIS at Crufts) and Ch Nutshell of Nevedith (CC-record holder as well as Dog of the Year in Great Britain). Cafe Society is a combination of Dutch Gold and his sire Hillsdown Fergal, and she is sired by Ch Fawnbree Special Brew at Dumbriton.
These British breeders have imported dogs that partly added new blood, but also a good portion of their own home-bred lines. A classic idea to advance your own breeding program. It will be interesting to see if the attitude and interest in bringing more foreign bred Whippets into Great Britain now that the borders are opened withing the Europe. Maybe the possibilities to use a broader spectrum of males for breeding will be more tempting.
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